3 days in Mexico City - A complete itinerary

CDMX is a hustling mass of humanity. But dig under the surface and you will find spending 3 days in Mexico City is more fun than you could possibly have imagined.

Mexico City sits on a 2,240 m high plateau in the centre of the country. Home to over 20 million people, it’s a huge conurbation with a vibrancy unlike any other. Street stalls, craft markets, wandering kids and public demonstrations fill its every corner.

The historical centre is a grid of glorious Spanish architecture sitting on the still visible remains of an ancient Aztec city. In the suburbs, traditional village life has survived the sprawl of the city and just an hour away, the ruins of what was once the greatest city in the Americas, stands as a memory to Mexico’s distant past.

Its museums are some of the best in the world and its art galleries have a powerful political and historical message. The eclectic fusion of Mexican and Spanish cuisine make spending 3 days in Mexico City much more interesting and fun than you could possibly imagine. To top it all off, Mexico is excellent value.

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DAY 1 AM / EXPLORING ZOCALO AND THE CENTRO HISTORICO

Start your day at the Plaza de la Constitución (otherwise known as Zocalo), the beating heart of the city and home to the cathedral, presidential palace and government offices. It is this square that was pulled apart in the James Bond film Spectre.

In the northeast of the square lies the centre of the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlán and the remains of a temple. Stroll around the ruins before exploring the attached museum. Next visit the Palacio Nacional which houses the offices of the president and the murals of Diego Rivera which tell the story of Mexico’s history before the Spanish conquest. The bell that sits atop the cathedral was the same one that rang during the war of independence.

Head to the north of the square and into the Catedral Metropolitana, the largest cathedral in the Americas. Many locals pray at the wide range of gilded and wooden altars. Make sure you join a bell tower tour which takes you onto the roof of the cathedral and gives you super views over Zocalo and the city.

DAY 1 PM / AZTECS AND MAYANS AT THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Grab lunch at El Cardenal, a beautiful building with an excellent traditional menu, before jumping on the metro to Chapultepec (Linea 2). Exit the tube and make your way into the park, the largest in Mexico City. It’s a beautiful lively place for a stroll and a castle is perched on the hill but the real reason for coming here is the Anthropological Museum.

The Anthropological Museum is one of the greatest museums in the world. It has 12 sections charting different aspects of Mexican history. There is no way you can see it all but we recommend you check out the sections on Teotihuacán, Mexica (Aztecs) and Mayans. Make sure you head into the gardens out the back where replicas of the ruins have been constructed.

Hop back on the metro, exit at Bellas Artes and make your way to Plaza Garibaldi, a square with music dancing and plenty of bars; a great place to hang out for the evening.

DAY 2 AM / COMMUNISTS & ART IN BOHEMIAN COYOACÁN

Day 2 of your 3 days in Mexico explores the village of Coyoacán. In spite of being overtaken by the ever-expanding city, it has retained its independence and charm. Jump on the metro to Viveros (Linea 3) then walk east via the local gardens (Viveros de Coyoacán) to the Frida Kahlo museum.

The museum is the ‘Blue House’ where the artist Frida Kahlo lived and is now packed with mementos and paintings of her life, her often difficult marriage to Diego Rivera and her Marxist leanings. Prices have shot up in recent years and queues can be long so make sure you book online in advance.

Head into the village centre and stroll around Plaza Hidalgo, Jardin Centenario and the Juan Batista church. Markets and food stalls are packed into the surrounding streets. Sit down and grab lunch on the pavement with one of the many smiling cooks.

DAY 2 PM / STREET FOOD AND BARS IN CENTRO HISTORICO

In the afternoon walk up the Leon Trotsky museum. Trotsky lost his battle with Stalin to become leader of the Soviet Union, was exiled and condemned to death. He sought refuge in Mexico City and made his home in Coyoacán. This house, a museum to his life, remains as it was when he was finally hacked to death.

Hop back on the metro at Coyoacán metro (Linea 3) and head to Balderas (Linea 3). Exiting, explore the southern streets of Almeda and Centro Historico before spending the evening in the bars of pedestrianised San Jeronimo and Regina. Try a pre-dinner mezcal or tequila and plate of grasshoppers before taking a seat at Zéfiro for a great meal.

DAY 3 AM / PYRAMIDS OF THE SUN AND THE MOON AT TEOTIHUACÁN

On the last day of your 3 days in Mexico head out of town to the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon in the ancient Mexica city of Teotihuacán, once the greatest city in the Americas. You can join a tour, but they often spend little time at the sight and more time at shops and other curios. Better to take the metro to Autobuses del Norte (Linea 5), collect your tickets from Puerta 8 in the bus station and get the bus to Pyramides or Zona Arquelogico.

The bus takes 1 hour and drops you right at the entrance to the park. It helps to arrive early as the crowds and the heat pick up after 10:00. Start by climbing the 248 steps to the Pyramid of the Sun before the heat of the day kicks in. Then stroll the Avenue of the Dead for the shorter climb up the Pyramid of the Moon.

Pop into the museum at its base before exploring the Palace of Quetzlpapálotl with its ornately carved pillars and colourful murals. Exploring the entire site takes 2 to 3 hours, after which leave from gate 2, walk through the car-park and catch the bus from the far side of the main road. You should not have to wait more than 20 minutes.

DAY 3 PM / PALACIO BELLAS MODERN ART & SUNSET DRINKS

Take the metro back to Bellas Artes (Linea 8) and head to old style Café Tabuca for lunch. Spend the afternoon exploring art in the Palacio de Bellas Artes, a simply stunning building with excellent political murals and interesting exhibitions. Head across the park to Museo Mural Diego Rivera which houses a 15m long mural, the pinnacle of Rivera’s work.

As the afternoon dies head up Torre Latinoamericana for a sunset drink and sweeping views over this massive city. For dinner try Azul Historico, great food with some fine mole in a beautiful courtyard twinkling under fairy lights. A perfect end to your 3 days in Mexico.

ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO HELP PLAN YOUR OWN 3 DAYS IN MEXICO CITY

We believe that a little pre-planning, research, and understanding what you are looking for in a destination, will help make your travels far more successful. Here’s some further information we think you might need to plan your own 3 days in Mexico City.

GETTING AROUND MEXICO CITY

International flights land at Benito Juárez International Airport about 5km from the centre of town. Safe and reliable fixed price yellow door taxis take between 15 and 30 minutes and cost about 250 pesos. Otherwise, hop on the metro at Terminal Aérea (Line 5) and make your way into town.

Metro is by far the easiest way to get around Mexico City. It can, however, be very busy and crowded. Keep your eyes on your belongings and don’t leave your backpack on your back while riding the metro.

We found walking in all the areas which this itinerary covers safe. However, most locals eat at home in the evening so the streets can feel eerie and deserted.

You can find all the places we visited on the map below, colour coded by Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3.

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BEST TIME TO GO TO MEXICO CITY

Mexico City rainy season runs from May to October and the depth of winter can be cold. This makes March / April and November the best times to go for the weather and to avoid the crowds. Ideally, time your trip for the Day of the Dead festival on the first two days of November.

COSTS OF OUR 3 DAYS IN MEXICO CITY

The total cost of our 3 days in Mexico City, excluding international flights, for two people, was Mex$17,000. With Nov 2018 exchange rates of Mex$25.5 to the British Pound; Mex$20.5 to the US dollar; and Mex$23 to the Euro, this equates to:

US $825

GBP £675

EUR €750

Total Cost

For 2 people, excluding international flights

Mex$17,000Mexican Peso

Mex$12,000 4 nights’ accommodation

Mex$2,750 3 days of food and drink for 2 people

Mex$750 Transport

Mex$1,500 Entrance fees and bits and pieces

BOOKING TIPS FOR YOUR 3 DAYS IN MEXICO CITY

Stay in the Centro Historico area of Mexico City. Many of the best sights are nearby and the metro lines offer good transport links to other destinations.

Hotels.com often has excellent deals on some of the best hotels in town such as Histórico Central Mexico City where we stayed. It’s a clean, comfortable hotel in an excellent location. Depending on offers at the time, you should be able to book for just over US$ 130 /£110 / EUR 120 a night.

GUIDEBOOKS & READING

We used the Lonely Planet guidebook for Mexico which contains helpful information about opening times, attractions and is generally good for restaurant recommendations across the whole country. However, if you’re just planning to visit Mexico City, the Lonely Planet Mexico City guide might be all you need.

Another great source for restaurants is Foursquare. Certainly much more reliable than Trip Advisor in searching out good food. Download the app before leaving.

Very detailed and helpful. Though it seems like a whole lot of money for two people for three days but I guess it makes sense as it literally covers everything. And one can always opt for cheaper accommodation.

Yes we try to include every penny or cent we have spent. One can easily spend less by not eating in restaurants and staying in cheaper accommodation. Hopefully the breakdown helps you work out what you can save on.

This is great! So many of my friends have recommended Mexico City, but I’ve been worried about how landlocked it is and if it would be too hot and arid. Your photos definitely makes me want to add it to my destination list. Mexico City seems so lively and full of culture and fun things to do!

I plan to visit Mexico next year, so this article is a must read for me! While I’m thinking I might spend most of my days in the Yucatan region, Mexico city is also high on my list. Do you think it’s a good thing to combine both?

Our 2 week Mexico itinerary will be out in the next few weeks, so hopefully that will give you some ideas as at least half of it is in Yucatan. It is perfectly possible, and a good idea, to include Mexico City with Yucatan. After a few days in the city take an internal flight to Cancun and go from there. We will have details in upcoming posts.

We are yet to visit Mexico, but we certainly will do before long, and Mexico City will be top on the list of our places to visit. Your itinerary covers all the kinds of things we love to do on our travels. And it’s beautifully presented as always! So I will be saving this for our future travel planning. Great work 🙂

Thanks a lot. We try to put our itineraries together so that we see all the sights that interest us without retracing our steps necessarily. We try to make sure each day has a variety of activities (e.g. spreading the museums out) and not too much travel time. Hopefully it works, but if it does not we make sure we say in a ‘what we would do differently’ section.

We found the main areas of Mexico City perfectly safe. We felt a bit more nervous (although had not problems) on some of the rural backroads, which we will detail in and upcoming driving in Mexico post.

Mexico city is high on my list and thanks for sharing a detailed post on this place. Pyramids of the sun and the moons looks interesting and I was not knowing about these wonderful ancient architectures.

This makes me miss Mexico so much! I’ve been to Mexico thrice but I haven’t been in Mexico City but I only heard good things. Also, I really want to go to Teotihuacán as well. Chitzen Itza was a bit a let down for me.

Learnt a lot from this post. Only knew that Mexico City is the largest city in North America and is very different from the rest of North America. So glad to have come across this because there is no way I can spend more than 3 days there because of time crunch. Will be really helpful.

Love the post, the pictures, and the cost breakdowns. As I grew up in the US, Mexico was one of those places I never thought about going to as it was just South, but posts like these really instill a desire to go as soon as possible. Such a colorful place and the food is banging!

I absolutely LOVE Mexico City! Have been a few times now for a 3-4 days at a time but don’t think any of the itineraries I followed have been as spot on as yours. Definitely agree with you that the Anthropological Museum is one of the best in the world as well, it was incredible!

I’ve been citing about Mexico, there are some speculations about how dangerous is it to visit Mexico but I really want to visit this palce. I love the culture and the people I will surely visit here one day.